pompey-第22章
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came at once to a close fight with their swords； and made a great
slaughter； but as he was still pressing forward； and breaking the
ranks of the vanguard； one of Pompey's soldiers ran him in at the
mouth； so that the point of the sword came out behind at his neck； and
Crassianus being thus slain； the fight became doubtful； and
continued equal on that part of the battle。
Pompey had not yet brought on the right wing； but stayed and
looked about； waiting to see what execution his cavalry would do on
the left。 They had already drawn out their squadrons in form；
designing to turn Caesar's flank； and force those few horse； which
he had placed in the front； to give back upon the battalion of foot。
But Caesar； on the other side； having given the signal； his horse
retreated back a little； and gave way to those six subsidiary cohorts；
which had been posted in the rear； as a reserve to cover the flank；
and which now came out； three thousand men in number； and met the
enemy； and when they came up； standing by the horses； struck their
javelins upwards； according to their instructions； and hit the
horsemen full in their faces。 They； unskillful in any manner of fight；
and least of all expecting or understanding such a kind as this； had
not courage enough to endure the blows upon their faces but turning
their backs； and covering their eyes with their hands； shamefully took
to flight。 Caesar's men； however； did not follow them； but marched
upon the foot； and attacked the wing； which the flight of the
cavalry had left unprotected； and liable to be turned and taken in the
rear； so that this wing now being attacked in the flank by these；
and charged in the front by the tenth legion； was not able to abide
the charge； or make any longer resistance； especially when they saw
themselves surrounded and circumvented in the very way in which they
had designed to invest the enemy。 Thus these being likewise routed and
put to flight； when Pompey； by the dust flying in the air； conjectured
the fate of his horse； it were very hard to say what his thoughts or
intentions were； but looking like one distracted and beside himself；
and without any recollection or reflection that he was Pompey the
Great； he retired slowly towards his camp； without speaking a word
to any man； exactly according to the description in the verses…
〃But Jove from heaven struck Ajax with a fear；
Ajax the bold then stood astonished there；
Flung o'er his back the mighty sevenfold shield；
And trembling gazed and spied about the field。〃
In this state and condition he went into his own tent and sat
down； speechless still； until some of the enemy fell in together
with his men that were flying into the camp； and then he let fall only
this one word； 〃What！ into the very camp？〃 and said no more； but
rose up； and putting on a dress suitable to his present fortune；
made his way secretly out。
By this time the rest of the army was put to flight； and there was a
great slaughter in the camp among the servants and those that
guarded the tents； but of the soldiers themselves there were not above
six thousand slain； as is stated by Asinius Pollio； who himself fought
in this battle on Caesar's side。 When Caesar's soldiers had taken
the camp； they saw clearly the folly and vanity of the enemy； for
all their tents and pavilions were richly set out with garlands of
myrtle； embroidered carpets and hangings； and tables laid and
covered with goblets。 There were large bowls of wine ready； and
everything prepared and put in array； in the manner rather of people
who had offered sacrifice and were going to celebrate a holiday；
than of soldiers who had armed themselves to go out to battle； so
possessed with the expectation of success and so full of empty
confidence had they gone out that morning。
When Pompey had got a little way from the camp； he dismounted and
forsook his horse； having but a small retinue with him； and finding
that no man pursued him； walked on softly afoot； taken up altogether
with thoughts； such as probably might possess a man that for the space
of thirty…four years together had been accustomed to conquest and
victory； and was then at last； in his old age； learning for the
first time what defeat and flight were。 And it was no small affliction
to consider that he had lost in one hour all that glory and power
which he had been getting in so many wars and bloody battles； and that
he who but a little before was guarded with such an army of foot； so
many squadrons of horse； and such a mighty fleet； was now flying in so
mean a condition； and with such a slender retinue； that his very
enemies who fought him could not know him。 Thus； when he had passed by
the city of Larissa； and came into the pass of Tempe； being very
thirsty； he kneeled down and drank out of the river； then rising up
again； he passed through Tempe； until he came to the seaside； and
there he betook himself to a poor fisherman's cottage； where he rested
the remainder of the night。 The next morning about break of day he
went into one of the river boats； and taking none of those that
followed him except such as were free； dismissed his servants；
advising them to go boldly to Caesar and not be afraid。 As he was
rowing up and down near the shore； he chanced to spy a large
merchant ship； lying off。 just ready to set sail； the master of
which was a Roman citizen； named Peticius； who； though he was not
familiarly acquainted with Pompey； yet knew him well by sight。 Now
it happened that this Peticius dreamed； the night before； that he
saw Pompey； not like the man he had often seen him； but in a humble
and dejected condition； and in that posture discoursing with him。 He
was then telling his dream to the people on board； as men do when at
leisure； and especially dreams of that consequence； when of a sudden
one of the mariners told him he saw a river boat with oars putting off
from shore； and that some of the men there shook their garments； and
held out their hands； with signs to take them in； thereupon
Peticius； looking attentively； at once recognized Pompey； just as he
appeared in his dream； and smiting his hand on his head； ordered the
mariners to let down the ship's boat； he himself waving his hand；
and calling to him by his name； already assured of his change and
the change of his fortune by that of his garb。 So that without waiting
for any further entreaty or discourse he took him into his ship；
together with as many of his company as he thought fit； and hoisted
sail。 There were with him the two Lentuli and Favonius； and a little
after they spied King Deiotarus； making up towards them from the
shore； so they stayed and took him in along with them。 At supper time；
the master of the ship having made ready such provisions as he had
aboard； Pompey； for want of his servants； began to undo his shoes
himself； which Favonius noticing； ran to him and undid them； and
helped him to anoint himself； and always after continued to wait upon；
and attended him in all things； as servants do their masters； even
to the washing of his feet and preparing his supper。 Insomuch that any
one there present； observing the free and unaffected courtesy of these
services； might have well exclaimed…
〃O heavens； in those that noble are；
Whate'er they do is fit and fair。〃
Pompey； sailing by the city of Amphipolis； crossed over from
thence to Mitylene； with a design to take in Cornelia and his son； and
as soon as he arrived at the port in that island； he despatched a
messenger into the city with news very different from Cornelia's
expectation。 For she； by all the former messages and letters sent to
please her； had been put in hopes that the war was ended at
Dyrrhachium； and that there was nothing more remaining for Pompey
but the pursuit of Caesar。 The messenger； finding her in the same
hopes still； was not able to salute or speak to her； but declaring the
greatness of her misfortune by his tears rather than his words；
desired her to make haste if she would see Pompey； with one ship only；
and that not of his own。 The young lady hearing this； fell down in a
swoon； and continued a long time sen
